Cheapest States for Interior Painting | 2026 Rankings
Where you live has a major impact on interior painting costs. In 2026, Arkansas is the most affordable state for interior painting projects with a typical cost of $3,464, while Hawaii is the most expensive at $4,825.
The table below ranks all 51 states by typical interior painting cost, from cheapest to most expensive. Differences are driven by local labor markets, material availability, building codes, and permit requirements.
At a Glance
5 Cheapest States
5 Most Expensive States
Full 51-State Interior Painting Cost Rankings
Sorted by typical project cost, cheapest first. Click any state to see a detailed cost breakdown.
| Rank | State | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | $1,097 | $3,464 | $7,108 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $1,115 | $3,521 | $7,214 |
| 3 | Tennessee | $1,121 | $3,539 | $7,257 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $1,123 | $3,547 | $7,272 |
| 5 | South Carolina | $1,142 | $3,605 | $7,390 |
| 6 | Alabama | $1,149 | $3,628 | $7,425 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $1,150 | $3,632 | $7,446 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $1,157 | $3,652 | $7,461 |
| 9 | Texas | $1,159 | $3,658 | $7,505 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $1,161 | $3,665 | $7,501 |
| 11 | Utah | $1,163 | $3,672 | $7,508 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $1,175 | $3,711 | $7,595 |
| 13 | Kansas | $1,179 | $3,722 | $7,613 |
| 14 | Idaho | $1,181 | $3,731 | $7,626 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $1,183 | $3,736 | $7,646 |
| 16 | Florida | $1,185 | $3,741 | $7,661 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $1,186 | $3,745 | $7,660 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $1,187 | $3,747 | $7,667 |
| 19 | Virginia | $1,195 | $3,772 | $7,739 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $1,199 | $3,786 | $7,719 |
| 21 | Georgia | $1,204 | $3,801 | $7,768 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $1,230 | $3,886 | $7,904 |
| 23 | Iowa | $1,232 | $3,892 | $7,931 |
| 24 | Montana | $1,236 | $3,903 | $7,951 |
| 25 | Arizona | $1,247 | $3,937 | $8,025 |
| 26 | Vermont | $1,249 | $3,946 | $8,041 |
| 27 | Michigan | $1,262 | $3,987 | $8,104 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $1,268 | $4,004 | $8,153 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $1,275 | $4,026 | $8,206 |
| 30 | Ohio | $1,275 | $4,028 | $8,169 |
| 31 | Indiana | $1,277 | $4,034 | $8,189 |
| 32 | Colorado | $1,279 | $4,039 | $8,223 |
| 33 | Delaware | $1,282 | $4,051 | $8,233 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $1,293 | $4,084 | $8,292 |
| 35 | Nevada | $1,297 | $4,097 | $8,315 |
| 36 | Missouri | $1,303 | $4,115 | $8,353 |
| 37 | Oregon | $1,312 | $4,144 | $8,459 |
| 38 | Maine | $1,313 | $4,148 | $8,421 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $1,316 | $4,156 | $8,436 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $1,318 | $4,164 | $8,453 |
| 41 | Maryland | $1,334 | $4,213 | $8,577 |
| 42 | Massachusetts | $1,348 | $4,258 | $8,638 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $1,380 | $4,359 | $8,841 |
| 44 | New York | $1,383 | $4,370 | $8,883 |
| 45 | Washington | $1,401 | $4,426 | $8,999 |
| 46 | California | $1,417 | $4,475 | $9,090 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $1,428 | $4,511 | $9,156 |
| 48 | New Jersey | $1,454 | $4,595 | $9,307 |
| 49 | Alaska | $1,475 | $4,660 | $9,414 |
| 50 | Illinois | $1,480 | $4,678 | $9,433 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $1,527 | $4,825 | $9,769 |
Green rows = 5 cheapest states. Red rows = 5 most expensive states. Data reflects 2026 averages.
How these rankings were built
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS), Craftsman National Estimator, NAHB permit data
Ranking method: States sorted by typical (mid-range) project cost using state-level labor, material, and overhead averages
See our full methodology. Report an error.
Rankings for Other Projects
Compare state-by-state rankings for other home improvement projects: